Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen Research Articles

Screening for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Mozambique: Validation of the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual fifth edition (PC-PTSD-5).

The confluence of conflict-, climate-, and public health-related emergencies in Mozambique increases the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Few brief screening tools for PTSD have been validated in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to validate the five-item Primary Care PTSD Screen for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5), the PC-PTSD-5 in Mozambique. This study recruited 957 participants who completed the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus (MINI-Plus) and PC-PTSD-5, a convenience sample from primary and tertiary care settings in Maputo, Mozambique. Participants were administered a diagnostic interview for psychiatric disorders and the PC-PTSD-5 screening tool. We evaluated the criterion validity of the PC-PTSD-5 concerning the MINI-Plus diagnosis of PTSD, the internal construct validity and reliability using confirmatory factor analysis and Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20), discriminant validity of the PC-PTSD-5 in comparison to other common mental disorder and suicide risk screening tools, and measurement invariance of selected cutoffs by age, sex, and comorbidity. Internal consistency of the PC-PTSD-5 was high (KR-20 = 0.837), and confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a single PTSD factor fits the data well. PC-PTSD-5 items were moderately correlated with other psychiatric symptoms. Criterion validity analyses revealed that a cutoff score of 3 provided high specificity (0.833) and moderate sensitivity (0.673). This cutoff score performed optimally across age and gender; however, a cutoff score of 2 was preferred if the participant had no psychiatric comorbidities. Screening with the PC-PTSD-5 may facilitate case detection and linkages to appropriate treatment for individuals affected by potentially traumatic events in Mozambique. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Sexual victimisation, peer victimisation, and mental health outcomes among adolescents in Burkina Faso: a prospective cohort study

Sexual victimisation and peer victimisation are pervasive and increase risk for mental illness. Longitudinal studies that compare their unique and cumulative effects are scarce and have been done predominantly in high-income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence, prospective associations, and gender differences in sexual and peer victimisation and mental health in a low-income, African setting. In this prospective cohort study, data were obtained from the 2017 ARISE Adolescent Health Study, a population-representative, two-wave, prospective study of adolescents (aged 12-20 years) from Burkina Faso. A random sample of adolescents was drawn from ten villages, selected to capture the five main ethnic groups, and from one of the seven sectors of Nouna town, Burkina Faso, at two timepoints: Nov 12 to Dec 27, 2017, and Nov 15 to Dec 20, 2018. Standardised interviews were conducted in French or a local language by trained researchers. We measured victimisation exposure as sexual victimisation, peer victimisation, and polyvictimisation, using lifetime frequency of exposure, and we measured mental health symptoms and disorders using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale, the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screen IV and 5, and a question on lifetime self-harm and number of incidents in the past year. We calculated prevalence of victimisation and mental health symptoms and disorders at the two timepoints, and we used lifetime victimisation at the first timepoint to predict mental health at the second timepoint using logistic and negative binomial regressions. Gender differences were examined using interaction terms. Of 2544 eligible adolescents, 1644 participated at time 1 and 1291 participated at time 2. The final sample with data at both timepoints included 1160 adolescents aged 12-20 years (mean 15·1, SE 0·2), of whom 469 (40·4%) were girls and 691 (59·6%) were boys. The majority ethnic group was Dafin (626 [39·1%]), followed by Bwaba (327 [20·5%]), Mossi (289 [16·0%]), Samo (206 [13·0%]), Peulh (166 [9·7%]), and other (30 [1·6%]). After survey weight adjustment, sexual victimisation (weighted percentages, time 1, 256 [13·8%] of 1620; time 2, 93 [7·2%] of 1264) and peer victimisation (weighted percentages, time 1, 453 [29·9%] of 1620; time 2, 272 [21·9%] of 1264) were common, whereas polyvictimisation was more rare (weighted percentages, time 1, 116 [6·6%] of 1620; time 2, 76 [5·7%] of 1264). Longitudinally, sexual victimisation was associated with probable clinical disorder (adjusted odds ratio 2·59, 95% CI 1·15-5·84), depressive symptoms (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1·39, 95% CI 1·12-1·72), and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (aIRR 2·34, 1·31-4·16). Peer victimisation was associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (aIRR 1·89, 1·13-3·17) and polyvictimisation was associated with depressive symptoms (aIRR 1·34, 1·01-1·77). Girls reported more sexual victimisation (weighted percentages, 130 [17·3%] of 681 vs 126 [11·4%] of 939), boys reported more peer victimisation (weighted percentages, 290 [33·1%] of 939 vs 163 [25·2%] of 681), and there was a significant interaction between lifetime victimisation and gender for probable clinical disorder (F [degrees of freedom 7, sample 376] 2·16; p=0·030). Sexual and peer victimisation were common in the study setting and increased risk for mental health problems. Adolescent girls who have been sexually victimised are especially at risk of mental health problems. Interventions targeting sexual and peer violence in low-income settings are needed. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, Fondation Botnar, and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

Labour agentry and subsequent adverse mental health outcomes: A follow-up study of the ARRIVE Trial.

Labour can be traumatic for women who perceive they are not involved in decisions affecting their care during labour. Our objective was to assess the relation between labour agentry and subsequent mental health. Follow-up cohort study. U.S. Tertiary care center. Participants from Utah who participated in the ARRIVE (A Randomized Trial of Induction Versus Expectant Management) trial. During the ARRIVE trial, participants completed the Labor Agentry Scale twice, a validated questionnaire measuring perceived control of patients during childbirth. ARRIVE participants from Utah subsequently were asked to complete questions about mental health history and stressful events occurring since the trial, as well as surveys including the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PC-PTSD) screen, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screen. The lower quartile of both agentry measurements defined a person's ordinal agentry category, used for assessing cohort characteristics by exposure category. Continuous minimum agentry was included in adjusted modelling. The primary outcome was a mental health composite including a positive screen for depression, anxiety, or PTSD or self-report of a diagnosis or exacerbation since their delivery. In all, 766 of 1042 (74%) people responded to the survey (median 4.4, range 2.5-6.4 years after delivery) and 753 had complete data for analysis. In unadjusted comparisons across ordinal agentry category, lower agentry was significantly associated with the primary composite endpoint, and depressive symptoms (test of trend p = 0.003 primary, p = 0.004 depression). Lower labour agentry scores were associated with incremental odds of the primary endpoint (1 SD [24 units], adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.41-1.03), driven by depressive symptoms or self-reported diagnosis (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.47-1.05). Lower labour agentry at the time of birth was associated with a greater risk for mental health conditions years after delivery, indicating a potential opportunity for primary prevention of subsequent depression.

Effects of prior injury on long term patient reported outcomes after trauma.

Trauma is an episodic, chronic disease with substantial, long-term physical, psychological, emotional, and social impacts. However, the effect of recurrent trauma on these long-term outcomes remains unknown. We hypothesized that trauma patients with a history of prior traumatic injury (PTI) would have poorer outcomes 6 months (6mo) after injury compared with patients without PTI. Adult trauma patients admitted at an urban, academic, Level I trauma center were screened for inclusion (October 2020 to November 2021). Enrolled patients were administered the PROMIS-29 instrument, the primary care post-traumatic stress disorder screen, and standardized questions about prior trauma hospitalization, substance use, employment, and living situation at baseline and 6mo after injury. Assessment data was merged with clinical registry data, and outcomes were compared with respect to PTI. Of 3,794 eligible patients, 456 completed baseline assessments and 92 completed 6mo surveys. Between those with or without PTI, there were no differences at 6mo after injury in the proportion of patients reporting poor function in social participation, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, or sleep disturbance. Prior traumatic injury patients reported poor physical function less often than patients without PTI (10 [27.0%] vs. 33 [60.0%], p = 0.002). After controlling for age, gender, race, injury mechanism, and Injury Severity Score, PTI correlated with a fourfold decrease in poor physical function risk (adjusted odds ratio, 0.243; 95% confidence interval, 0.081-0.733; p = 0.012) in the multivariable logistic regression model. Compared with patients suffering their first injury, trauma patients with PTI have better self-reported physical function after a subsequent injury and otherwise equivalent outcomes across a range of HRQoL domains at 6mo. There remains substantial room for improvement to mitigate the long-term challenges faced by trauma patients and to facilitate their societal reintegration, regardless of the number of times they are injured. Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

Disparities in insecurity, social support, and family relationships in association with poor mental health among US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health. Identifying risk factors and susceptible subgroups will guide efforts to address mental health concerns during the pandemic and long-term management and monitoring after the pandemic. We aimed to examine associations of insecurity (concerns about food, health insurance, and/or money), social support, and change in family relationships with poor mental health and to explore disparities in these associations. An online survey was collected from 3952 US adults between May and August 2020. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma-related disorders were assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Perceived Stress Scale-4, and the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen, respectively. Social support was measured by the Oslo Social Support Scale. Logistic regression was used and stratified analyses by age, race/ethnicity, and sex were performed. We found a higher prevalence of poor mental health among those who were younger, female, with lower socioeconomic status, and racial/ethnic minorities. Participants who were worried about money, health insurance, or food had higher odds of symptoms of anxiety (OR = 3.74, 95% CI: 3.06–4.56), depression (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 2.67–3.84), stress (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 2.67–3.57), and trauma-related disorders (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 2.42–3.55) compared to those who were not. Compared to poor social support, moderate and strong social support was associated with lower odds of all four symptoms. Participants who had changes in relationships with parents, children, or significant others had worse mental health. Our findings identified groups at higher risk for poor mental health, which offers insights for implementing targeted interventions.

Psychometric evaluation of Korean version of COVID-19 fear scale (K-FS-8): A population based cross-sectional study.

COVID-19-related fear negatively affects the public's psychological well-being and health behaviours. Although psychological distress including depression and anxiety under COVID-19 is well-established in literature, research scarcely evaluated the fear of COVID-19 with a large sample using validated scale. This study aimed to validate a Korean version of fear scale(K-FS-8) using an existing fear scale(Breast Cancer Fear Scale; 8 items) and to measure the fear of COVID-19 in South Korea. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 2235 Korean adults from August to September 2020. The Breast Cancer Fear Scale was translated from English into Korean using forward-backward translation, and then face validity was assessed. Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM-5 were used for assessing convergent validity of K-FS-8, and item response theory analysis was also conducted to further validate the K-FS-8. This study confirmed the validity and reliability of the K-FS-8. The validity of the scale was confirmed by convergent validity, known-group validity and item response theory analysis, and internal consistency was also examined(Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.92). This study also identified that 84.6% participants had high COVID-19 fear; whilst 26.3%, 23.2% and 13.4% participants had high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The K-FS-8 showed the acceptability measuring the fear of COVID-19 in the Korean population. The K-FS-8 can be applied to screen for fear of COVID-19 and related major public health crises identifying individuals with high levels of fear in primary care settings who will benefit from psychological support.

Evaluating the Performance of the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) in a Trauma-Exposed, Socioeconomically Vulnerable Patient Population.

The properties and utility of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) remain unstudied in community-based populations. This study evaluates the performance of the PC-PTSD-5 to determine whether it can be used as a brief alternative to the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in a large public hospital in the southeastern United States. Participants (N = 422; 92.7% Black; 85.8% female; Mage = 42.0years, SDage = 13.4years) completed the PCL-5 and PC-PTSD-5 after recruitment from medical clinic waiting rooms and admission lists. Using chance-corrected test quality indices and item response theory (IRT) analyses, we determined optimal cut-scores for screening and examined item performance. Approximately 45.0% of the sample screened positive for probable DSM-5 PTSD using the PCL-5. The PC-PTSD-5 demonstrated high internal consistency and strong associations with PCL-5 scores (total, r = .79; items, rs = .51-.61). A cut-score of one was optimally sensitive for screening (κ[1] = .96), and a cut-score of four had the highest quality of probable efficiency (κ[.5] = .66) for detecting self-reported DSM-5 PTSD on the PCL-5. IRT analyses indicated Item 1 (nightmares, intrusive memories) provided the most information, and other items may not be incrementally useful for this sample. Findings provide preliminary support for the use of the PC-PTSD-5 as a brief alternative to the PCL-5 among chronically trauma-exposed patients in the public healthcare setting.

Post-traumatic stress and depression following a landslide linked to the 2018 floods in Kerala, India: Relevance of screening.

There is scant information on early manifestation of trauma due to catastrophic natural events and its relation with stress-related disorders. The specific objective of this study was to estimate and compare the prevalence of post-traumatic stress and depression on day 3 (D3) and week 6 (W6) following the 2018 flood in Kerala, India. In a cross-sectional study, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression were studied at D3 using primary care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screen for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (PC-PTSD-5), and then at W6 using PC-PTSD-5, Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and Becks Depression Inventory. Majority (70 percent) were screen positive at D3 (n = 20) compared with 30 percent at W6 (n = 50), with a decreased frequency of all symptoms. Being PC-PTSD-5 screen positive at W6 was significantly associated with the presence of threat to life, physical injury, and death of relatives or neighbors. According to PCL-5, at W6, 46 percent had possible PTSD. Except damage to property, other disaster related or sociodemographic variables were not associated with the risk of having PTSD. Positive predictive value of PC-PTSD-5 (D3) for PTSD (PCL-5) at W6 was 64.3 percent. Depression and possibility of PTSD were significantly associated. A considerable proportion of victims continued to have post-traumatic stress and depression although the -frequency decreased over time. A simple screening measure may help to identify victims with possible PTSD.

Validating the primary care posttraumatic stress disorder screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) in a substance misusing, trauma-exposed, socioeconomically vulnerable population

The co-occurrence of substance use disorder (SUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common, and is associated with greater severity of symptoms, poorer treatment prognosis, and increased risk of return to substance use following treatment. Screening for PTSD is not routinely implemented in substance use treatment programs, despite clinical relevance. Identifying screening tools that minimize patient burden and allow for comprehensive treatment in this patient population is critical. The current study examined the utility of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) in identifying probable PTSD in a predominantly Black sample of 81 socioeconomically disadvantaged substance misusing hospital patients. The majority of the sample (75.3 %; n = 61) were found to meet criteria for probable PTSD using a suggested clinical cut score of 33 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Diagnostic utility analyses were completed and determined a cut-score of 5 for the PC-PTSD-5 to demonstrate the best performance (SE = 0.62, κ(1) = 0.22; SP =.80, κ(0) = 0.61; EEF = 0.67, κ(0.5) = 0.32) in this sample. Results provide preliminary support for the use of the PC-PTSD-5 as a brief screening tool for probable PTSD in substance misusing patient populations. Routine use of the PC-PTSD-5 during assessment may be beneficial when treatment planning with those undergoing treatment for SUD because comprehensive assessment and treatment will provide a better chance of long-term recovery.

Anxiety, Depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptomatology According to Gender in Health-Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru Shortened Title: "Psychological Impact of the Pandemic on Women".

Objective: The current study will evaluate the association that the COVID-19 pandemic has had with health-care workers and identify the factors that influenced the female gender being more affected. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in two hospitals in Arequipa (a Peruvian city). The participants were health-care workers. We applied a questionnaire with sociodemographic information and three scales: the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Screen for DSM-5. The main outcomes were anxiety, depression, and PTSD scores. The exposure of interest was gender. The scores of the scales were estimated by medians and percentiles 25–75 (p25–p75), and we used linear regression to estimate the crude and adjusted coefficients and their respective confidence intervals at 95% (CI 95%). Results: There were 109 participants, and 43.1% were women. The anxiety, depression, and PTSD median (p25–p75) scores in the study population were 6 (2–11), 6 (2–10), and 1 (0–3), respectively. The adjusted analysis showed that the female sex had 4.48 (CI 95% 2.95–6.00), 4.50 (CI 95% 2.39–6.62), and 1.13 (CI 95% 0.50–1.76) higher points on average for the scales of anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in comparison to males, respectively. Conclusions: Female health-care workers showed increased scores of mental health issues in comparison to male health-care workers.

Healthcare Worker Mental Health and Wellbeing During COVID-19: Mid-Pandemic Survey Results.

Introduction/BackgroundHealthCare worker (HCW) mental health and wellbeing are uniquely affected by the complexities of COVID-19 due to exposure to the virus, isolation from family and friends, risk and uncertainty. Little if any inquiry has examined the effects on an entire healthcare system, particularly immediately post-surge. We sought to examine the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and behavioral health difficulties as a healthcare system transitioned out of the first wave. We assessed the effects of work role, setting and individual diversity factors on employee distress and coping strategies.Materials and MethodsThis was an Institutional Review Board approved, unfunded, voluntary survey sent via REDCap link, to all employees of Hartford HealthCare, a mid-sized healthcare system (N ≈ 29,900) between May 15th and June 26th, 2020. Two system-wide emails and two emails targeting managers were sent during this time frame. Eight thousand four hundred and ninety four employees (28.4% of all e-mails distributed) participated in the survey, representing clinical, support, administrative, and medical staff across hospital, outpatient, residential, and business settings. The survey contained items assessing personal background, work environment/culture, and formal measures, including: patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), general anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), primary care post-traumatic stress disorder screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD), alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT-C), and the insomnia severity index (ISI).ResultsAlmost 1/3 of respondents (31%) reported symptoms of clinically significant anxiety; 83% moderate to severe depression; and 51% moderate to severe insomnia. Thirteen percent screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder. Frontline staff (p ≤ 0.001 vs. others) and females (p < 0.001 vs. males) endorsed the highest levels of distress, while race (p ≤ 0.005) and ethnicity (p < 0.03 for anxiety, PTSD and insomnia) had a complex and nuanced interaction with symptoms.ConclusionPandemic stress effects all healthcare employees, though not equally. The effects of work role and environment are intuitive though critical. These data suggest individual diversity factors also play an important role in mental health and wellbeing. All must be considered to optimize employee functioning.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) within a civilian primary care sample.

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Screen for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (PC-PTSD-5) as a screening tool for the identification of PTSD among a civilian sample receiving behavioral health treatment within a primary care setting. Validation within a civilian sample will increase the generalizability of the PC-PTSD-5 as a brief screening measure to identify PTSD within primary care practices. The present study is a retrospective review of data (N = 198) collected as part of a patient registry for an integrated behavioral health consultation service within a primary care clinic. The PC-PTSD-5 was administered as part of a standardized set of brief screening measures and a standard clinical interview. Diagnostic validation was accomplished via a consensus model between a board-certified family medicine physician and a licensed psychologist along with medical/psychology trainees. Fifty-two participants (26.26%) out of 198 who completed the PC-PTSD-5 were diagnosed with PTSD. The PC-PTSD-5 demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.933, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.901-0.965). A cutoff score of 4 maximized sensitivity (sensitivity% = 100) while maintaining acceptable specificity (specificity% = 85.2). This score also maximized efficiency (κ[0.5] = 0.77, SE = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and maintained a good (≥0.60) quality index for specificity (κ[0] = 0.61). The PC-PTSD-5 maintained strong diagnostic accuracy within a civilian primary care sample.

Beyond pain and disability: The lasting effects of trauma on life after injury.

The impact of traumatic injury likely extends beyond direct physical consequences and lasts well beyond the acute injury phase. Data collection is sparse after hospital discharge, however. In this observational study, we hypothesized that sequelae of injury would last at least 6 months and sought to prospectively determine patient-reported physical, emotional, and social outcomes during this postinjury period. We surveyed patients admitted to our Level I trauma center (July 2019 to October 2020) regarding baseline functioning and quality of life after injury, using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) instrument, a primary care posttraumatic stress disorder screen, and questions on substance use, employment, and living situation. Patients were re-surveyed at 6 months. PROMIS-29 scores are reported as t scores compared with the US population. Differences between groups were analyzed using χ 2 , signed-rank, and t tests, with paired tests used for changes over time. Three hundred sixty-two patients completed the baseline, 130 of whom completed 6-month follow-up. Those completing the 6-month survey were similar ages (43.3 ± 17.8 vs. 44.4 ± 19.0, p = 0.57), mechanism (24.7% vs. 28.0% shot or stabbed, p = 0.61), and severities (median Injury Severity Score, 9 vs. 9; p = 0.15) as those who only completed the baseline. There were 55.0% reported being hospitalized for an injury previously. Patients reported decreases in ability to participate in social roles and activities (mean t score 51.4 vs. 55.3; p = 0.011) and increases in anxiety (53.8 vs. 50.5, p = 0.011) and depression (51.0 vs. 48.7, p = 0.025). There were 26.2% that screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder at 6 months. Employment decreased at 6 months, with 63.9% reporting being "occasionally" employed or unemployed at 6 months versus 44.6% preinjury ( p < 0.001). The effects of injury extend beyond pain and disability, impacting several realms of life for at least 6 months following trauma. These data support the development of screening and intervention protocols for postinjury patients. Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level IV.

Sleep Difficulties Among COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Workers

ObjectiveTo identify COVID-19 work-related stressors and experiences associated with sleep difficulties in HCW, and to assess the role of depression and traumatic stress in this association.MethodsA cross-sectional study of HCW using self-report questionnaires, during the first peak of the pandemic in Israel (April 2020), conducted in a large tertiary medical center in Israel. Study population included 189 physicians and nurses working in designated COVID-19 wards and a comparison group of 643 HCW. Mean age of the total sample was 41.7 ± 11.1, 67% were female, 42.1% physicians, with overall mean number of years of professional experience 14.2 ± 20. The exposure was working in COVID-19 wards and related specific stressors and negative experiences. Primary outcome measurement was the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Secondary outcomes included the Primary Care-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC-PTSD-5); the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression; the anxiety module of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS); Pandemic-Related Stress Factors (PRSF) and witnessing patient suffering and death.ResultsCompared with non-COVID-19 HCW, COVID-19 HCW were more likely to be male (41.3% vs. 30.7%) and younger (36.91 ± 8.81 vs. 43.14 ± 11.35 years). COVID-19 HCW reported higher prevalence of sleep difficulties: 63% vs. 50.7% in the non-COVID group (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.15–2.29, p = 0.006), mostly difficulty maintaining sleep: 26.5% vs. 18.5% (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.11–2.44, p = 0.012). Negative COVID-19 work-related experiences, specifically witnessing patient physical suffering and death, partially explained the association. Although past psychological problems and current depression and PTSD were associated with difficulty maintaining sleep, the main association remained robust also after controlling for those conditions in the full model.Conclusion and RelevanceCOVID-19 frontline HCW were more likely to report sleep difficulties, mainly difficulty maintaining sleep, as compared with non-COVID-19 HCW working at the same hospital. Negative patient-care related experiences likely mediated the increased probability for those difficulties. Future research is needed to elucidate the long-term trajectories of sleep difficulties among HCW during large scale outbreaks, and to identify risk factors for their persistence.

Psychological Distress Was Still Serious Among Anesthesiologists Under the Post COVID-19 Era.

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the psychological status and the attitudes toward the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine among anesthesiologists. We expected to analyze related factors and offer them some strategies to prevent and manage psychological issues under the post COVID-19 era.MethodsBased on the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES), an online survey was designed and conducted among anesthesiologists in Shaanxi, China. Participants were asked to complete a validated questionnaire voluntarily. The following tests were performed: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Primary Care Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC-PTSD), and the attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine.ResultsA total of 795 anesthesiologists completed the survey, the majority of them were female, young and middle-aged, well educated, and married. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in this sample were 26.5%, 35.5%, and 19.9%, respectively. Longer daily working time, concomitant basic chronic disease, and COVID-19 exposure were extracted as risk factors for the psychological symptoms, while vaccination, elder age, and married status were negatively associated with them. An unsatisfied vaccination rate (71.9%) which might be linked with inadequate awareness and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine was also detected in this study.ConclusionAnesthesiologists are still under rising pressure of psychological symptoms in the post COVID-19 era. It is imperative to afford continuous psychological support to them and ensure their mental health and professional performance.

Influence of sleep difficulty on post-traumatic stress symptoms among frontline medical staff during COVID-19 pandemic in China

ABSTRACT Being a nurse was demonstrated to be a risk factor for post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTS) and insomnia among frontline staff during COVID-19 pandemic. The unidirectional relationship between insomnia and PTS highly suggested that insomnia could mediate the increasing risk of PTS among frontline nurses. However, no study had tried to clarify this mediation effect of insomnia during COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate prevalence of insomnia and PTS among frontline doctors and nurses and to clarify the relationship between career (doctor/nurses), insomnia and PTS. A total of 211 frontline doctors and nurses completed the investigation. Insomnia was measured using a self-drafted questionnaire and PTS was assessed using primary care post-traumatic stress disorder screen (PC-PTSD). Three logistics regression models and one mediation model were performed to explore relationships between career, insomnia and PTS. The prevalence of PTS (PC-PTSD≥2) and insomnia (with 1 item in self-drafted insomnia questionnaire≥2) was 24.17% and 36.97%, respectively. Being a nurse was a shared risk factor of insomnia (OR = 4.16, 95%CI: 1.30 ~ 5.77, P = 0.023) and PTS (OR = 7.51, 95%CI: 1.89 ~ 40.50, P = 0.008). Compared to doctors, nurses had significantly higher prevalence of insomnia (46.32% vs. 20%, χ2 = 13.27, P < 0.001) and PTS (30.14% vs. 13.33%, χ2 = 6.57, P = 0.011). Insomnia was a significant partial mediator (B = 0.101, P = 0.026), which explained 32.53% proportions of relationship between being a nurse and PTS. PTS and insomnia were common symptoms, which should be considered in psychological aids among frontline medical staff. Insomnia might be a possible target of PTS intervention.

Clinical validation of brief mental health scales for use in South African occupational healthcare

Orientation: South Africa carries a high burden of mental ill-health. Screening to identify individuals for further referral is emerging as one pathway to promote access to mental health interventions. Existing occupational health surveillance infrastructure may be a useful mechanism for clinical mental health screening. Research purpose: This study explored the clinical validity of a range of brief mental health measures in the context of occupational health surveillance. Motivation for the study: To meaningfully screen for mental health as part of occupational health surveillance, tools are required that are empirically validated, clinically useful, locally available and practical to administer. Research approach/design and method: Workers ( n = 1816), recruited through workplace occupational health surveillance programmes, completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Brief Symptom Inventory 18-somatisation subscale, Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale-7, Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen, Intense (panic-like) anxiety scale and CAGE scale and partook in a diagnostic interview with a clinical psychologist. Main findings: Basic psychometric characteristics were reported, including confirmatory factor analyses, measurement invariance, internal consistencies and socio-demographic effects. Clinical utility was explored through receiver operating/operator characteristics curve analyses, and calculations of positive and negative predictive values, as well as sensitivity and specificity. These indicators provided evidence of clinical validity in the study context. Practical/managerial implications: The findings support the use of psychological screening as a brief, practicable and easily accessible mode of occupational mental health support. Contribution/value-add: This article presented evidence of structural and criterion validity for these scales and described their clinical application for practical use in occupational mental health surveillance.

The protective role of reasons for living on suicidal cognitions for military affiliated individuals with a positive PTSD screen in primary care settings

Background: Identifying and enhancing protective beliefs is essential in reducing suicide risk among military-affiliated individuals. The goal of this study was to examine if specific reasons for living impact the relationship between PTSD and suicidal cognitions among military-affiliated individuals in primary care settings.Methods: Participants included 2,685 U.S. military personnel and their adult beneficiaries recruited from primary care clinics. Participants completed the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen, Suicide Cognitions Scale, and Brief Reasons for Living Inventory.Results: Responsibility to family and survival and coping beliefs—were related to suicidal cognitions with higher levels associated with less suicidal cognitions and a weaker relationship between PTSD and suicidal cognitions. By contrast, fear of suicide and fear of social disapproval were associated with more suicidal cognitions, and the link between positive PTSD screen and suicidal cognitions was stronger for individuals with higher levels of fear of social disapproval. Moral objection did not predict suicidal cognitions and did not moderate the relationship between PTSD and suicidal cognitions.Limitations: The limitations of the study include that measures were done in primary care and brief screeners were often used. Additionally, the study is cross-sectional in nature, whereas some of the symptoms and outcome variables likely fluctuate over time.Conclusions: Findings suggest not all reasons for living are not equally influential and, among military-affiliated individuals with a positive PTSD screen, bolstering reasons for living related to responsibility to family and survival and coping skills could be particularly impactful in reducing suicide cognitions.

Emergency physician stressors, concerns, and behavioral changes during COVID-19: A longitudinal study.

ObjectivesThe objective was to provide a longitudinal assessment of anxiety levels and work and home concerns of U.S. emergency physicians during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsWe performed a longitudinal, cross‐sectional email survey of clinically active emergency physicians (attending, fellow, and resident) at seven academic emergency departments. Follow‐up surveys were sent 4 to 6 weeks after the initial survey and assessed the following: COVID‐19 patient exposure, availability of COVID‐19 testing, levels of home and workplace anxiety/stress, changes in behaviors, and performance on a primary care posttraumatic stress disorder screen (PC‐PTSD‐5). Logistic regression explored factors associated with a high PC‐PTSD‐5 scale score (≥3), indicating increased risk for PTSD.ResultsOf the 426 surveyed initial respondents, 262 (61.5%) completed the follow‐up survey. While 97.3% (255/262) reported treating suspected COVID‐19 patients, most physicians (162/262, 61.8%) had not received testing themselves. In follow‐up, respondents were most concerned about the relaxing of social distancing leading to a second wave (median score = 6, IQR = 4–7). Physicians reported a consistently high ability to order COVID‐19 tests for patients (median score = 6, IQR = 5–7) and access to personal protective equipment (median score = 6, IQR = 5–6). Women physicians were more likely to score ≥ 3 than men on the PC‐PTSD‐5 screener on the initial survey (43.3% vs. 22.5%; Δ 20.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.3% to 31.5%), and despite decreases in overall proportions, this discrepancy remained in follow‐up (34.7% vs. 16.8%; Δ 17.9%, 95% CI = 7.1% to 28.1%). In examining the relationship between demographics, living situations, and institution location on having a PC‐PTSD‐5 score ≥ 3, only female sex was associated with a PC‐PTSD‐5 score ≥ 3 (adjusted odds ratio = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.28 to 4.79).ConclusionsWhile exposure to suspected COVID‐19 patients was nearly universal, stress levels in emergency physicians decreased with time. At both initial and follow‐up assessments, women were more likely to test positive on the PC‐PTSD‐5 screener compared to men.

The association between witnessing patient death and mental health outcomes in frontline COVID-19 healthcare workers.

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCW) treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients face high levels of psychological stress. We aimed to compare mental health outcomes, risk and protective factors for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), probable depression, and anxiety between HCW working in COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 wards.MethodsA self‐report survey, administered in a large tertiary hospital in Israel during the peak of the COVID‐19 outbreak was completed by 828 HCW (42.2% physicians, 57.8% nurses. Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System; the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9; the Primary Care‐Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM‐5 (PC‐PTSD‐5) were used for assessing anxiety, depression, and PTSS, respectively. Pandemic‐related stress factors, negative experiences, and potential protective factors were also assessed.ResultsMedian PC‐PTSD scores differed significantly between study teams (χ 2 [5] = 17.24; p = .004). Prevalence of probable depression and anxiety were similar in both groups. Risk factors for mental health outcomes included mental exhaustion, anxiety about being infected and infecting family. Overall, higher proportion of the COVID‐19 team witnessed patient deaths as compared to the non‐COVID‐19 team (50.2% vs. 24.7%). Witnessing patient death at the COVID‐19 wards was associated with a four‐fold increased likelihood of PTSS (odds ratio [OR] = 3.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58–9.99; p = .0007), compared with the non‐COVID‐19 wards (OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.51–1.61; p = .43).ConclusionsWitnessing patient death appears to be a risk factor for PTSS unique to HCW directly engaged in treating patients with COVID‐19. Our findings suggest that helping HCW cope with COVID‐19 related deaths might reduce their risk of posttraumatic stress.